Houthi forces have claimed responsibility for launching drones and missile strikes on a military base in southern Saudi Arabia, intensifying the ongoing conflict in Yemen. The attack targeted the Sharurah base, focusing on weapons depots and command centers, according to a statement from Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree on social media. The exact date of the operation was not disclosed.
These developments come amid a rapid Houthi advance along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including recent captures of a key port city, Mocha, and several strategic islands near the Bab al-Mandab strait—a critical alternative shipping route to the Strait of Hormuz. This offensive has raised concerns about the security of international maritime trade and the stability of energy supplies in the region.
Saudi Arabia’s civil defense authorities reported that a projectile landed in the al-Tawwal governorate near the Yemeni border along the Red Sea, injuring two people and damaging a mosque and other buildings. The Saudi statement attributed the incident to Houthi forces. Sirens were also reported in the Sharurah governorate, although no damage was confirmed there.
In response, Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, said they carried out airstrikes against Houthi positions in Mocha and other southwestern locations, including the Taiz region. The Yemeni military described these attacks as operations targeting “terrorist Houthi group” barracks and positions. Despite this, government officials acknowledged the loss of territory along the Red Sea coast as “painful and regrettable.” Sultan al-Arada, governor of Marib province and a member of Yemen’s presidential council, stated that forces were regrouping and intended to counterattack.
The renewed clashes mark a significant escalation in Yemen’s civil war, which began in 2014 and has caused widespread displacement and casualties. Since the ceasefire in 2022 broke down, over 500 people have been reported killed in recent fighting. The United Nations migration agency has recorded nearly 86,000 people fleeing the conflict, many moving to the southern port city of Aden or across the Red Sea to Djibouti.
The conflict is further complicated by regional dynamics. Reports indicate Iranian involvement, with the Revolutionary Guard Corps allegedly providing guidance to the Houthis, though Iran denies direct military support. Meanwhile, state media in Iran reported an attack on a commercial vessel near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in one death and four injuries. The Qeshm governor blamed a “terrorist enemy” for the strike. Separate incidents were reported in the environmentally and militarily sensitive strait, including a projectile hitting a passing ship and a subsequent fire, prompting evacuations by local authorities.
The Bab al-Mandab strait’s strategic importance has grown as Saudi Arabia has shifted more of its oil exports through this route after Iranian blockades affected shipments in the Strait of Hormuz. The fighting in Yemen and tensions around maritime routes have raised international concerns about escalating regional instability.
On the diplomatic front, reports surfaced that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman contacted former U.S. President Donald Trump twice last week, seeking U.S. military strikes against the Houthis. Trump acknowledged the conversations but did not confirm any planned action, stating, “Everything’s gonna work out fine and dandy.”
The conflict persists as Yemen’s internationally recognized government and Houthi forces continue to battle for control amid broader regional rivalries involving Saudi Arabia, Iran, and other actors.